Irish meat producers have sights set on US market
Waterford-based Dawn Meats, which exports to more than 40 countries is the latest to be given the green light to the US, where there is a growing demand for grass-fed hormone-free beef for which the Irish beef industry is renowned.
"We are pleased to have secured US Department of Agriculture approval, which is a testament to the very high standards applied by the Dawn Meats team in Charleville," said Dawn Meat’s chief executive Niall Browne.
"We believe there is an opportunity for a natural, grass-fed, quality Irish beef proposition to become a viable choice for US consumers looking for a natural and tasty alternative to domestically-produced grain-fed US beef. We are working with a number of like-minded partners with whom we have engaged over the last 18 months to make this a reality."
Ireland became the first EU country to be granted access to the US beef market earlier this year following the lifting of the embargo which was put in place during the 1990s BSE crisis.
ABP Foods, which supplies beef to US food distributor Sysco, was the first Irish producer to regain access to the US after the ban was rescinded.
Meanwhile, the Irish Department of Agriculture said it was helping other meat producers to gain entry to the US, with Meath-based Kepak said to be the next with sights set on exporting over the pond. The Department is also in the process of trying to extend the existing licensing arrangement, but the US authorities are understood to be insisting on additional E.coli testing before allowing Irish beef mince into the country.
